Bumper sales of pumpkins and Halloween outfits boosts Morrisons, which says turnaround is well under way

Bumper sales of pumpkins and Halloween outfits boosted Morrisons, which said its turnaround is well under way.

Britain’s fourth biggest grocer has struggled over recent years, but yesterday reported its fourth consecutive quarter of sales growth.

The supermarket chain credited Halloween and its new premium Best range for a 1.6 per cent rise in sales for the three months to October 30.

Chief executive David Potts said: ‘By listening to customers, Morrisons is becoming more relevant around key seasons and events. This year’s Halloween was our biggest ever. We are turning around this company. There is a lot more we plan to do.’

The new Best range, a range of more up-market foods, was introduced a few weeks ago and sales are up 50 per cent. It sold out of 12,000 Canadian lobster and Cromer crab macaroni meals, which cost £6.